Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

[makonnen]

Last time I tried to r+r the raw water pickup on an Alpha 1 Gen 2 w/ 4.3 V6 I gave up. Its not surprising that I'm running into the same issues on a Bravo III w/ 5.7 - it appears a bunch of coolant hoses and the power steering is right smack in the way.

I have the parts and the special tool needed, I really want to do it this time. Give it to me straight, who has done it with the engine in place? Got any advice?

From what I can see, it looks like I need to remove that wiring harness, a wack of coolant hoses, the power / hydraulic steering mechanism, the starboard riser and elbow and my appendix just to have enough room to swing the tool.

 

[makonnen]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

BUMP

Ok, all you guys replacing your bellows, anyone replace the raw water pickup tube?

 

[achris]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

I use a LOOOONG 1/4" extension with a 5/16" socket on and come in from the port side, having swung the wheel hard to port to get the steering arm out the way... Just loosen the hose clamp and pull the hose off. That gives you access to the clamp plate bolts too... once they're out, piece of cake....

Chris.....

 

[makonnen]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

I use a LOOOONG 1/4" extension with a 5/16" socket on and come in from the port side, having swung the wheel hard to port to get the steering arm out the way... Just loosen the hose clamp and pull the hose off. That gives you access to the clamp plate bolts too... once they're out, piece of cake....

Chris.....

Ok thanks, I'll give it a shot. So you have room to swing that special tool to get that plastic insert on and off??

 

[achris]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

Ok thanks, I'll give it a shot. So you have room to swing that special tool to get that plastic insert on and off??

What special tool? The tube and grommet just pull straight out.

 

[makonnen]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

I'm not talking about the 1 1/4" hose that goes to the raw water pump, I'm talking about the raw water pickup tube between the gimbal housing and the bell housing.

Check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL975D13ACE54A9E83&feature=player_detailpage&v=mr4mSEUXoUU#t=177s

I need enough room to swing that special tool to insert the threaded plastic spreader...

 

[Deese566]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

Merc does make a special tool for removing that little tapered insert bushing in the end of the hose. Where its fun is trying to remove the insert from the end thats inside the bilge. They tend to get a heavy build up of corrosion on the eng end and start to close up. I've seen em so bad the plastic insert will completly collapse an block water flow from all the white powder corrosion. Also when ya get ready to remove the two 1/4-20 bolts that hold the water neck to the backside of the transom assembly, better spray em good w/pb-blaster or some kind of pent/oil. The last one i did that bottom bolt broke so out came the eng. Thats the hardest part is removing the insert from this end. Good luck bro

 

[makonnen]

Re: Raw water tube r+r w/ pics, give it to me straight

Merc does make a special tool for removing that little tapered insert bushing in the end of the hose. Where its fun is trying to remove the insert from the end thats inside the bilge. They tend to get a heavy build up of corrosion on the eng end and start to close up. I've seen em so bad the plastic insert will completly collapse an block water flow from all the white powder corrosion. Also when ya get ready to remove the two 1/4-20 bolts that hold the water neck to the backside of the transom assembly, better spray em good w/pb-blaster or some kind of pent/oil. The last one i did that bottom bolt broke so out came the eng. Thats the hardest part is removing the insert from this end. Good luck bro

Check out the second picture above. I have that tool. I jsut don't see having the room to swing that tool to get it in place. And all this work to install a hose that is known to give problems. A thru-hull raw water intake is looking better and better.

http://www.iboats.com/Perko-Scoop-T...52453528--session_id.369399255--view_id.22443